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From "Earholes" to the Underground

Chris Illich
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Locally renowned hip-hop artists are teaming up with CFBU's radio show "All Up in Them Earholes" for a series of concerts titled Niagara's Sounds From the Underground, the first of which will be held at L3 on March 12. Jacob Bergsma, host of "All Up", has been performing for several years around the St. Catharines scene under a number of different monikers. Some might know him from his heavy metal days in Smiths Grove, or from the collaborative hip-hop group called Baked, but most simply know him as Hospitals. After bringing his unique form of hip-hop around to anyone that would listen, Bergsma has recently started to focus on supporting the music of his peers in the Niagara hip-hop scene. With "All Up", Bergsma's goal is to keep everyone updated on what is happening within the budding hip-hop scene in Niagara. "With 'All Up', artists are able to send in their music, we go on-air, all request, people call in. It's actually like that radio station in the Warriors, as in it keeps everyone updated on the all the local rumbles. Basically, I do it because it brings some excitement to the scene. I hope it pumps people up and encourages people to put their pens to paper and start writing," said Bergsma. "When it comes down to it, it is all about the community. I love getting calls from all over Niagara, hearing people making vibrations and getting involved is just what I'm looking for. It's been happening a lot lately, and really coming together." Recently, Niagara's hip-hop community has started to flourish, becoming increasingly more recognized and respected throughout the city because of artists like Bergsma who are willing to not only play in any bar that will book them, but also through all the hard work and promotion that has come of the radio show. Even promotion companies such as Niagara Music Scene, who generally specialize in rock and hardcore shows, have taken notice and have been helping this burgeoning scene take off. Niagara Music Scene, in association with "All Up", hosted the first King of St. Catharines competition, in which artists freestyle battled each other until there was a final victor. These shows are important to not only the Niagara hip-hop scene, but are also vital to the Niagara scene as a whole, as they display a wealth of talent that rarely makes it out into the venues in St. Catharines. "Definitely anyone with Fruity-Loops and a microphone can be an emcee, but these shows go beyond a regular music show. They're exciting, they're interactive and they are different," said Bergsma. Now that Niagara hip-hop is starting to become more popular, Bergsma hopes to see an influx of hip-hop dominated shows in St. Catharines' downtown core. With Bergsma working hard to solidify himself as an integral part to the scene, he shows no sign of letting up; the next generation of Niagara hip-hop fans can thank him for attempting to bring the scene together and allowing it to prosper. "When the pieces started coming together with Hospitals, I was able to take a peek at what was going on in St. Catharines. It's all a learning experience for me. Some emcees have been doing this for years around here. I just want to bring us all together and make a name for Niagara. We've got some heavy hitters and, as a scene, we are definitely a show worth the cover charge," said Bergsma. "Hip-hop is often misunderstood and rightfully so, with what the radio and television make of it. I'm out to plant seeds all over the Garden City, and hopefully give people a chance to appreciate an under-appreciated genre of live music here in Niagara." "All Up in Them Earholes" airs every Monday at 10 p.m. on CFBU 103.7.